The weather sure has changed swiftly here. Last Saturday at the alpaca farm it felt like summer. By Sunday it felt like fall. And when the weather turns cooler I start making supper again. See, in the summer it’s all about the grill. Grilled chicken, steak, pork chops, even veggies. Everything gets thrown on the grill. But in the fall, it’s all about comfort food. Pot roast and mashed potatoes. Roast pork and oven browned potatoes. Lasagna and chili and beef stew. And my old stand-by, American Chop Suey.
I didn’t realize until last week that American Chop Suey is a regional food and it is apparently most familiar in the Boston area. But when I mentioned to Anne that I had a hankering for it and she asked me what the heck it was, I discovered that it isn’t widely known outside of New England. Anyway, we had it for dinner last night. It’s what I make when I don’t know what to make because I always have the ingredients on hand. Hamburger, macaroni, chopped onion, tomato soup and stewed tomatoes. Green pepper is nice if it’s around but if you don’t have it, that’s okay, too. Fry up the hamburger and onion, boil the macaroni and the dump it all into a pot with the tomato soup and stewed tomatoes. I think most people actually use tomato sauce but my mom always used tomato soup and so do I.
And you know what? My family loves this meal! It’s quick, it’s simple and it’s even better as leftovers.
What’s your standby recipe for when you don’t know what to make for dinner? I’d love to hear about it.
Grace Said,
My girls, who are grown now, loved rice and tofu. When we didn’t know what to have for dinner, we cooked brown or basmati rice, fried tofu, and wrapped it in a tortilla with whatever we had to add to it: avocado, tomatoes, steamed broccoli, sprouts, cheese. It’s still one of their favorite meals.
Or we would have pasta with butter.
Dave Daniels Said,
My mom used to make that for us kids all the time. Ah, the memories…
Ann Said,
I never heard of it! When I don’t know what else to make, it’s some kind of pasta — with red sauce, or with butter, parmesan cheese, and peas, or, if there’s basil, with pesto.
Pat Said,
Ahhh – American Chop Suey…..always on the school lunch menu in Hudson, MA in the 1960s/70s. My own version – also a standby- sounds similar to yours, but no tomato soup just burger, macaroni, onion and tomatoes YUMM!
maryse Said,
i hadn’t heard about it until i moved to the area. if i don’t know what to make for dinner, for joe, i usually make just pasta and butter. i know. so boring. but butter. what’s not to love?
since we have this big ass grill, i plan on grilling until blizzard time.
elizabeth Said,
Lately my “stand by” recipe is eggs in a bowl. I make some over easy/over medium eggs, cut them up in a bowl, butter some toast and tear that into bite sized pieces, and mix it all together. It’s really good for when I have to eat and study…
The American Chop Suey sounds tasty. I think I’ll try that (with some veggie crumbles in place of the beef) this weekend.
Karen Said,
YUM! My mother made something very similar when I was a kid. Hamburg casserole: Fry the hamburg in the frying pan, drain off the grease. Add a can of french style green beans and enough tomato sauce to hold it together but not so much that it’s like a soup. Put into a casserole dish and top with mounds of homemade mashed potatoes. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
ann Said,
thanks for the recipe Carole! my usual standby is Mac & Cheese or scrambled eggs and salad ….
Chris Said,
American Chop suey!! My all time favorite. Only the family recipe was the ground beef, elbow macaroni and stewed tomatoes, no tomato sauce or soup. I make that for me often but my spouse and children are not fans – the heretics! Another favorite: Boston Baked Beans. Brick Oven baked beans, add molasses, brown sugar, crushed pineapple, and either ham or hot dogs. Serve with hot brown bread and apple salad (delicious apples cut into chunks, crushed pineapple, chopped walnuts, raisons all dressed in mayonaise diluted with pineapple juice). A nice homemade pneapple upside down cake for dessert finishes off the meal nicely. DH still prefers to grill throughout the year.
Lucia Said,
Black beans and rice, lightly spiced, with melted cheddar on top. (I once mentioned this to a rather upscale coworker, who responded, “Oh. How Third World.” (: )
Deb Said,
Hamburger, rice, 1 package of taco seasoning, sprinkle with Montery Jwck cheese, put chiles on my 1/3, throw in oven. Serve on top of heated refried beans. Hmmmmm, taco casserole.
Cheryl Said,
One of my favorites too, and I didn’t realize until a few years ago that it was a New England thing. My favorite version if it is finished up by melting some cheese on top in the oven.
Maybe I’ll have that tonight actually. . .
Karen Said,
My stand-by is linguine with white clam sauce. I used whatever spaghetti like pasta I have. Garlic is a staple at my house, and if I have a shallot I throw that in too, but if I don’t it’s okay. Make a little rue as the base. Throw in white wine if I have it, or chicken stock if I don’t. A can of clams (I always have a couple in the pantry.) Some half and half to make it nice and creamy. YUM!!! So easy and it’s like eating in a restaurant – for a fraction of the cost!!!
margene Said,
When I don’t know what to cook I drive somewhere for dinner…Noodles or Wendys;-)
Ruth Said,
I’ve never heard of your recipe, it sounds interesting. I have a few standards, one is to buy a roast chicken on the way home and wrap pieces in tortillas with salad and sweet chilli sauce. Another is corn patties with vegetables. 2 tins of corn 400 grams, 2 eggs, a glug of sweet chilli, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 -3/4 cup flour and a dash of milk. You want kind of a pancake like batter. then fry with a little oil and serve with potatoes and whatever vegetables or salad on hand. Only takes about 20 minutes. It was dinner last night:)
Judy Said,
I grew up with the same dish in PA called ‘goulash’. My Mom often made it with egg noodles instead of macs. Either or.
susan Said,
You’re right, no one here in Salt Lake City knows the joy that is American Chop Suey. But now I make it with TVP instead of hamburger. Tastes just as good.
Heather R. Said,
You’re kidding?! American Chop Suey is one of the necessities taught to me by dear mum (Blogless Sharon). That is definitely my standby recipe too! Running a close second is my concoction of sweet italian sausage with peppers and potatoes with diced tomatoes. (posted in July).
PumpkinMama Said,
I never knew that was New England specific! My mom also used to call it “quick beef put-together”. Our standby for what the hell to have for dinner night is mac-n-cheese with hot dogs (cut into pieces and stirred in the mac-n-cheese).
Cece Said,
Beef stew in the crockpot. Without potatoes (hubby is allergic, if you can belive it). Kidney beans, cup of red wine, pearl onions, carrots, rosemary, 3 cloves of garlic, mustard, tomato paste, salt, papper, stew beef and beef stock. Let it cook on low all day… come home, throw in some flour to thicken, serve it over egg noodles. Super Easy. Super Yummy. And a fav fall food.
Chris Said,
I think we call that “goulash” round here.
Jan Said,
American Chop Suey was a regular item on our family menu when I was growing up and I used to make it when my kids were little. Mmm, I can taste it now. Real cool weather comfort food!
Kelly Said,
I make thr same thing except we call it goulash and I put corn in mine. My father used to make it for us growing up and now it’s a staple in our house.
Carla Said,
In the comments, Chris mentions “goulash”..I wonder where Chris is because I grew up in northeast PA and we called that “goulash” as well. But another was “poop in a cloud” (actually my dad would call it shit in a cloud, but the rated G version is poop in a cloud) mashed potatoes, dig a hole out of your pile of potatoes and fill with chunky hamburger in gravy, and a veggie on the side.
My husband grew up in the upper midwest (northern WI) and their “stand-by” dinner was similar, ground beef, chopped onion, macaroni and canned corn, no sauce, just seasoned with salt pepper, maybe garlic and parsley.
Another variation is *real* wild rice (not the uncle bens stuff) with burger and walnuts.
Michelle Said,
Oh I’m defiantely a American Chop Suey gal myself!
Soemtimes I use soup sometimes my homemade suce witho ut without stewed tomatoes…chopped onlions different types sometimes, red/green peppers whatever else is around I feel like tossing in… leftover steak is good too…;o) Great comfort food!
Another quick simple favorite is shepards pie & chili
Julie Said,
Thanks a lot! It’s only 9am and now I want some American chop suey! I love it, but make mine with spaghetti sauce (from a jar of course – Classico Traditional Basil or Spicy Red Pepper). My mother used to make it for us as kids too. It really is good as leftovers – even cold right out of the refrigerator
amy o' Said,
You are too funny! I saw the picture before I even started reading and said to myself – “American Chop Suey – I should make some soon!” I didn’t realize it was a NE thing – living in MA all my life, you get so used to NE things… my mom makes the best Baked Beans around – her recipe is nothing like Chris said above, she uses navy beans, salt pork, onions, ketchup, and other things (I don’t have her recipe, but I guess I should get it). We also fry up salt pork, then pull it out and use the grease for corn chowder… it is just the best taste!
My “go to” meal if we don’t know what to make is mac & cheese (annie’s is what I keep in the house) with a can of tuna.
Karen Said,
Oh, I never had it with tomato soup. I’ll have to give it a try. Yum.
Beth S. Said,
Mine is similar to Lucia’s: black beans and yellow rice. Though I like monterey jack better than cheddar.
Kathy Said,
Oh yes, American Chop Suey. I also didn’t know that it a New England classic, but I do love it. We have plenty of mac and cheese and also quesadillas are a big standby. I am also big on pastas with whatever I have on hand. I always sautee onion/garlic in olive oil, then I’ll add some canned tomatoes (or fresh cherry tomatoes); chopped artichokes (from the can) and some chopped olives. A sprinkle of salt/peper and hot pepper and some parm cheese. In the summer, I’ll make a fresh tomato sauce by chopping with a bunch of tomatoes; put in bowl with basil, olive oil, salt and pepper. Then cook the pasta and combine.
Chris H Said,
Oh, I just love American Chop Suey! And I have fond memories of it from my school days. I even recall once in elementary school when a boy was considering the nature of the stewed tomato on his fork and another boy smacked his hand from the bottom, hoping to make the first one drop it in his lap. What happened was the first boy was so startled that his hadn REALLY flew up, and so did the tomato – right onto the ceiling of the cafeteria! I know that the stain was still there when I visited my old elementary school while I was in high school…tee hee hee!
As for current stand-by meals, we will often have mac & cheese (made with elbows and a jar of cheese sauce because my snobby little boys don’t like the powder…), or I’ll just poke around the kitchen and see what we have and come up with what has become know as one of my “dump meals” – I just dump a few things into a baking dish or a pot and heat it up. Ok, I’m the queen of the one pot meal, but I hate to clean up, so what can I say? Some recent favorites:
Dump Chicken – Put a few boneless chicken breasts or tenders in a baking dish, then dump on some canned or frozen veggies (we had corn, green beans and mushrooms the last time) and some spaghetti sauce (whatever was last on sale!) and cover with shredded cheese if you have it. Put it in the oven (at the universal 350 degrees) until hot and chicken is cooked through.
Tortellini Soup – Dump one can of chicken broth, three individual serving size cans of V-8, and a small bag of tortellini into the pot and simmer until tortellini are cooked through.
Chicken Chili – Dump some cut up chicken (fresh or left overs, white or dark meat – what ever you have around) into the crock pot along with a jar of your favorite salsa and a can of flavored chili beans and a can of corn before you leave for work, and come home to supper. Especially yummy when served with a dollop of sour cream and some tortilla chips (we love the “hint of lime” kind).
We also love shepherd’s pie (and the other day I made it with chicken because we were out of ground beef) and “breakfast for supper” when we’re just too tired to think about what to make.
Miriam Said,
Sandwiches or Mac & Cheese from a box
amanda Said,
Definitely regional since I’ve never heard of it! My standby is affectionately called late night spaghetti — shallots, garlic, pancetta, pasta, red pepper flakes, and at the very end I crack an egg over it and toss it. In fact we’ll be having that for dinner tonight since the Poulette is sick and I can’t run to the market today. That said, if I ask my kids what they want for dinner at the end of the week or over the weekend when I’m not feeling particularly creative they’ll ALWAYS ask for pancakes!
Susanne Said,
I always called it “goulash”..great meal and even better with fresh bread or buns (like who needs more carbs!?) but it is a great meal!
Dee Said,
We call that goulash here in KS. I also put sugar in it because my mom did. I think it was to counteract the acid in the tomatoes because they broke her mouth out. Doesn’t matter, with or without sugar it is a great comfort food.
Beth in STL Said,
We call that Goulash; learned from my Southern Illinois mother. Hamburger, green pepper if you have it, can of stewed tomatoes, can of tomato sauce, maybe a can of drained mushrooms, and macaroni. I add some brown sugar, paprika and cumin, along with garlic and oregano. Great the next day.
Our other favorite quick meal is Scroodles. Hamburger, rotini, cream of mushroom soup and cream of celery soup. Add some garlic salt, oregano and basil, because it’s pretty bland otherwise. We just had this Tuesday night.
Teyani Said,
Hey – I remember that! must make it soon!@
my current stand by meal, when I cannot make it to the market is tuna & peas : saute a chopped onion, stir in 1 big can tuna (drained) and 2 cans peas (drained). sprinkle heavily with oregano, and heat through. just before serving, add a bunch of sour cream (and a tad bit of half n’half). Serve over pasta, top with grated peccorino cheese. tastes alot like tuna casserole, but is ready in 10 minutes. woo hoo, my kinda meal for when I get home late from work!
Crazy For Yarn In Alabama: Darlene Said,
Hi, I found the button for the knit unto others….the blog site was from 2005 but I saw underneath the button a mention of this will take place again this year. Can you tell me where I need to go to join this KAL?
Alison Said,
Definitely either spaghetti or chili. Both are easy and since I make really big batches, I usually have some of both in the freezer already.
Laura Said,
Oh yeah, we called it Goulash in Michigan. It’s Goulash in Kansas too. We made a similar dish when I was growing up (and it’s a standard in my house now) called Texas Hash. Basically rice with chopped canned tomatoes, hamburger, onion, and chile powder. Another comfort food my mom made a lot was just called “macaroni, tomatoes and bacon”. That had a little sugar added – oh it’s one of my favorites. Gee thanks for making me hungry for some of my favorite carb-laden dishes so early in the morning Carole!! heh
heather Said,
Yup. Goulash! We just had that the other night, and this may sound really gross to you, but I use all the same ingredients except I add a bit of cream cheese (no measuring!). It is SOOOOO good.
Anne Said,
I’m with Margene…I go to Noodles & Co or Illegal Pete’s (Mexican). Or cereal; or falafel, hummus, & pita… When I was little I loved noodles, butter, & cheese. Lately I’ve been dreaming of tuna noodle casserole!
Lori Said,
My mom called that Goulash!
Esther Said,
Oh wow – that sounds beyond wonderful and makes me miss my time living up north even more – autumn/winter – great seasons for the holidays and comfort food!
Birdsong Said,
My standby is a Cal-Mex dish called chilliquilles – fry up torn up tortillas and chopped onion while frying up a pound of burger in a separate pot. You want the tortillas nice and crispy. You can add green and/or red peppers too.. when those two are done to your family’s liking, put them together in the bigger (in my case, cast iron) skillet, and add a mixture of 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese and one can fire-roasted tomatoes (or other sauce mixture to equal 1 1/2 cups – I’ve used enchilada sauce in a pinch but then it’s spicier). Spread this layer over the burger and tortilla layer, add a layer of grated Jack cheese on top (about 2 cups) and cover while the cheesy top layer melts and everything heats through – about 5-10 minutes. This recipe can be adjusted upwards or downwards depending on the number of people you have to feed and is great comfort food – the one recipe a DS called home to ask how to make when he went away to college:)
BigAlice Said,
Ha, I’ve never heard of American Chop Suey.
Our standby is chicken fajitas. Just chicken breast cut in strips covered in fajita dust seasoning sauteed with onions and bell peppers. Throw it all on a tortilla, and some sour cream if you have some.
The REALLY lazy dinner is Bachelor Stew: brown up some hamburger, drain, then pour in a family-size can of Campbell’s vegetable soup (the beef stock version). Don’t dilute it at all. Then add a can of canned corn (whole can – not drained). Heat until flavors go together. Soooo lazy, I learned this one in college.
Cookie Said,
I have never heard of that before. I’ve spent my life in California, so that might be why. *L*
All else fails, I make breakfast for dinner. Although, during the summer, I usually usually get a piece of fruit and hope for winter.
Jess Said,
American Chop Suey is called ‘Stuff’ in our family – long story, involving a cousin with a bad memory…and maybe some alcohol… ;o)
I made Pot Roast with potatoes and carrots in the slow cooker yesterday and was told it was good – I had knitting so I only got to smell it all day, not eat it ;o)
elisa Said,
My fall standby?
Hot cocoa with a healthy splash of creme de menthe.
Yummers.
Kristi aka Fiber Fool Said,
We ate it growing up in MN. There was chili powder and some other spices thrown in and it was called chili macaroni hotdish
I ate so much of it I won’t eat it now. But we always had more hamburger than we knew what to do with on the farm too…
Kate Said,
American Chop Suey— makes me think of the days of football practice and cheerleading— my mom kept it “on the (stove)top” so whoever was in the house could just “heat and eat”. I love this dish,but Dan hates it. So, our standby?
1. steak and “goop” (goop: ff italian dressing and mushrooms and peppers and onion, all boiled together and poured over the steak)
Kate
2. guiness beef stew and Brown Bread… now, you are a real bostonian if you have eaten Brown Bread and baked beans.
Beth Said,
We always called that dish goulash too. I had some at summer camp one year that was just awful and haven’t been able to eat it since; I should try again.
My standbys are black bean soup (saute an onion, add three cans of drained black beans that have been blended with 2 cups chicken broth, a can of green chilis, 2 small or 1 large can of diced tomatoes, and about 2 teaspoons cumin. Simmer for 10 minutes and serve with cheese, tortilla chips, avocado, sour cream, and a squeeze of lime juice.) and various chicken and rice dishes; I always have chicken breasts in the freezer.
sandy Said,
Can you imagine? People NOT knowing what american chop suey is? It seems so wrong!
People around here sure love their food!
xoxo
Michelle Said,
We make American Chop Suey too! I never realized it was a “New England” thing either. And I noticed in the picture (yum) it’s not just ANY macaroni, it must be elbows……always elbows. My mother always added mushrooms (never green peppers because we didn’t like them). Thanks for the idea for dinner tonight, I was going to make Sloppy Joes but will now make Chop Suey.
margaux Said,
my stand by dinner when there’s NOTHING going on is fried eggs and white rice. i think it’s a hispanic thing, but i love it. also any time i can eat “breakfast” foods for dinner… well sign me up! Hope to see you at Rheinback!
~Kristie Said,
I make something like American Chop suey, but at my house it’s called “Pot of Gold”. Everything from your recipe is the same except, omit the stewed tomatoes, add one can of cream style corn, one small can of sliced olives & about a cup of grated cheese. MMMMMM
Kathleen Said,
homemade mac and cheese is one of my all time favorites. with flaky biscuits! yum!
Judi Said,
What you call American Chop Suey, my brother learned as a Cub Scout but called African Goulash.
My favorite “go to” meal in the Spring/Summer/Fall is Sausage Glop
Brown one pound of bulk sausage (your favorite kind), pour off most of the grease. Add whatever fresh veggies you have on hand: onions,corn, peppers, zucchini. At the last minute add fresh diced tomatoes. Takes 15 minutes tops.
Can’t think of anything to cook? Take ONE large ovenproof bowl. Add ONE cup of RAW macaroni and ONE tablespoon of butter/margarine. Heat in microwave until butter melts and stir to coat macaroni (don’t skip this step). Add THREE cups of milk and as much packaged grated cheese as you want – it should be just visible under the surface of the milk. You can also add a can of corn or a can of green chile if you have it. But it in the oven and bake for about an hour. That’s it. ONE bowl, ONE spoon.
Marcia Said,
That’s goulash where I’m from too. My mom put a smidge of brown sugar in it. Mmmmm. I’ve been thinking of comfort cooking myself, except my evenings and weekends have been mercilessly busy. Grrrr. Have you tried La’s drunken bovine stew? That’s next on my list, if I can just keep a bottle of red in the house long enough…..
Kim Said,
Oh Lord! I used to cry as soon as I saw my New England mother assembling Chop Suey…eewww! LOL.
I had no idea that eveyone didn’t know what CS was. Even though it is not one of my favorites as an adult, I do make it for my kids and guess what……they like it…haha!
Liz Kalloch Said,
Oh I love that stuff, my mum makes a mean pot of American Chop Suey… and I didn’t know it wasn’t known outside of NE until I loved out west, and no one knew what I was talking about it, but they sure love it… I even have my mil (born and bred in L.A.) making my mother’s recipe… ah comfort food
Scout Said,
I make mac n’ cheese in the crockpot. It’s soooo good.
jessie Said,
In Vermont we call it “goulash” and I never had it until I met my husband.
Last night I made chicken stew with dumplings. And apple pie for dessert, of course. Can you say “comfort food”?
sean Said,
I love, love, LOVE American Chop Suey! (New Englander here!) I think I may now have to make it this weekend! YUM.
Norma Said,
Oh, not with the American Chop Suey argument again! Sandy went through this last year. It’s fucking GOULASH in the rest of the world. Don’t say “New England.” It’s Southern New Hampshire and parts of Massachusetts only, as far as I can tell. Heehee. American Chop Suey. PLEASE. (LOL)
Monica Said,
Scott’s grandmother used to make that for us. I didn’t realize it was a regional thing, but I had also never had it before.
These days we grab a Freschettas pizza and stick it in the oven. But when I’m actually cooking, Japanese chicken curry is my standby. Easy and yummy, with plenty for leftovers.
Bethany Said,
I sometimes make a similar dish, but I don’t always use tomato soup. I use cream of mushroom, or cream of celery sometimes. I also use different kinds of pasta, or do a half and half mixture of pasta and white rice. I add water to the dish so the raw pasta and rice cook in the soup mixture. And if I don’t have hamburger I might use chopped ham or leftover cooked chicken. I think of it as the Day Before Payday dish, as it’s cheap and easy when you’re broke and need to feel like you’re not starving.
I get tired of thinking of dinner meals, so I have been know to resort to pancakes, or even just scones and tea.
kay Said,
My husband is from Iowa and they had a goulash. I had never heard of it. He uses spagetti instead of macaroni, some kind of bean, kidney,etc. I knew I’d made it when I could fix it as good as his mama!
Stephanie Said,
Yum. I’ll have to try this recipe. I have a similiar recipe that is my stand-by, but I call it goulash. You add velveeta cheese and some chili powder, but everything else is the same.
Rachel Said,
So funny the way things in this extremely mobile, mixed country can still stay so completely regional. Here in southeastern New England (Fall River, specifically), chow mein sandwiches are a big thing. (I have to say there’s a good reason, in my opinion, that they never caught on elsewhere.)
Jane (crzjane) Said,
My Mom use to make the best! My oldest daughter renamed the meal to “Grammaa’s Stuff”. The name has stuck. Even I have managed to make “Stuff” come out pretty tastey. (Surprising since “I don’t cook” and when I do the family has the poison control number close at hand)
Thanks for the memories!
Theresa Said,
We call that “soup-a-la-boop” at my house for some reason. It was a staple growing up.
katie Said,
Hi Carole, I just discovered your blog!
I have heard of American chop suey, but never actually seen it in person or knew what it was. It looks yummy! I will make chili a lot, and if I have the time I make these parmesan bread bowls to go with it. The recipe for the bread bowls comes from one of those checkout-aisle Betty Crocker cookbooks, the paper-back kind, and it is GOOD! Then I usually combine the leftover chili with cooked macaroni and some tomato juice or sauce (just enough to water it down slightly) and serve it with cheddar cheese on top a few nights later. Chili mac, delicious.
I’m the same way about comfort foods in the fall and winter. I’m more about soup, though. I have a mean collection of soups in my repertoire.
kelley Said,
I’m from Ohio and it’s called goulash there…or as mom called used to call it: “shit on the shingle”. Don’t ask why…I have no idea. One of my ol’ standby dishes consist of adding cooked medium shells to one large can of boiling tomato juice, then removing it from the heat and topping it off with 8 0z of cubed cheddar cheese. Mix through and let stand for about five minutes or the cheese is melted—Don’t stir!!!
Best comfort food on the planet!!
K. Anne Said,
My best friend had a grandmother, who was born & raised in Maine, made American Chop Suey all the time! We just thought it was her grandmother’s made up creation. Who knew that other make it too?
She (my bf) introduced it to me while we were still in high school many (cough, cough) years ago. Although, I must admit, we cheat and use chunky spaghetti sauce in placed of the soup & stewed tomatoes.
K. Anne Said,
Man, I need to proof read before posting. I am missing so many letters in the previous post! Lol.